Real Madrid star sends heartfelt sorry: “My soul aches”

In shock. Deeply hurt. And with his “soul broken.” That is how Brahim Díaz is – as he explains in a heartfelt statement released hours after the Senegal heartbreak. It is the reality facing him after a night that could have been a fairy tale and instead turned into a nightmare. After winning the penalty he himself took, attempting a Panenka that Édouard Mendy read and caught with ease. After carrying his team to the Africa Cup of Nations final, being the leader, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, the Lion of the Atlas – waiting on the shore was the most bitter of reversals.

What did Brahim say after final loss?

“My soul aches. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you gave me – every message, every show of support that made me feel I wasn’t alone. I fought with everything I had, with my heart above all else.Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and sincerely apologize. It will take me time to recover, because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me and everyone who suffered with me.I will keep going until one day I can give all this love back and be a source of pride for my Moroccan people.”

“He will come out of this stronger”

One hundred and eight words that explain a single moment – one that could have been glory and was the exact opposite. In those 108 words, Morocco’s No. 10 does not evade blame – “I take full responsibility.” Nor does he deny reality: “It will take me time to recover, this wound does not heal easily.” “But I will try.” And he will. And he will succeed. His closest circle is convinced: “He will come out of this stronger.”

After the blow, beyond the hot takes and immediate analysis, the Moroccan people he refers to in the statement have rallied around him. The support has been overwhelming. So much so that his pinned Instagram post – showing him alongside Florentino Pérez on the day of his return to Madrid – saw interactions explode from 20,000 messages to more than 345,000 in eight hours. The vast majority were messages of affection and gratitude. Hence that closing line: “I will keep going until one day I can give all this love back.” That is how he feels it.

The longest penalty in the world

It was a situation reached amid controversy – a Senegal goal ruled out and a debatable penalty call. But once it was awarded, the longest penalty in the world began. Part of the Senegal crowd tried to invade the field and Malick Thiawurged his players to leave the pitch. An eternal wait followed, eventually calmed by Leroy Sané, the team’s leader, who called for calm and persuaded his teammates to return. It did not prevent the farce, nor did it spare Brahim – ball in hand – from enduring the full deluge. One that, in Morocco’s view, conditioned everything. As a result, they intend to pursue legal action with the CAF and FIFA.

Now, Brahim’s horizon is clear: healing. At Real Madrid, where he is expected back on Wednesday, he will be welcomed with open arms – as the MVP of a national team that came within one penalty of being crowned champions.

Mbappé sends Brahim support

He will return to Chamartín strengthened, also in his role as a leader. And there he will find another figure waiting for him, Kylian Mbappé, who dedicated words to him on the eve of the Monaco game: “It’s a complicated moment. It’s true that I also went through difficult times with the national team – anger, frustration. But you have to keep working. That’s the life of a footballer. I came to Madrid to win titles, but you also have to think about people, about feelings. Our idea is to help Brahim recover and support him.” To put Brahim back together.

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